Chapter 416 - 343: Perfect Counter (3)

Chapter 416: Chapter 343: Perfect Counter (3)

Marcus held a Heavy Shield in his left hand and gripped a Short Spear tightly in his right.

He tried to take a deep breath to calm himself, but his heart was still thumping wildly against his ribs.

"Are you ready?"

Zelir’s voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Marcus turned his head to meet his eyes.

In this tense, nerve-wracking moment, Zelir actually gave him a small smile.

That smile instantly eased much of the heavy pressure Marcus was feeling.

’That’s right...’

’We’ve made it this far and overcome so many difficulties. We can definitely do it this time, too!’

A faint curve appeared on Marcus’s lips as well.

"I’m ready!"

"Don’t be too nervous, Marcus."

Gray drew his Cloud Steel Sword and gave it a flourish, his movements quite dashing and effortless.

"If you can’t hold on, just shout for me. I can still play around with this Cheating Snake for a bit."

"Worry about yourself first. If Marcus takes a hit, we can still save him. If it were you... you’d probably be six feet under on the spot, right?"

Valles took a Black Tungsten Steel Armor-Piercing Arrow from his quiver and nocked it on his bowstring. "Don’t try to be a hero, pretty boy."

"What’s there to be afraid of? Half a year ago, I was still messing with wild wolves in the Gray Wood Forest. Now, I get to join a fight against a Nine-headed Dragon Snake."

A flippant smile played on Gray’s face. "It’d be worth it even if I die."

’Are all of Zelir’s people this carefree?’

The nearby Adrian Squad couldn’t help but have this thought as they listened to the conversation.

"HAH!"

Redia let out an explosive battle cry.

She slammed her massive Tower Shield into the ground before her, the muscles beneath her Armor tensing!

A thick, earthen-yellow Fighting Qi erupted from her, coiling around her body like churning dust.

Kilian snapped open a Crystal Tube and poured the liquid inside into his mouth.

After drinking it, he casually tossed the tube aside and immediately stomped on it, crushing it to pieces.

As the Magic Potion went down his throat, Kilian’s already formidable aura instantly surged even higher!

He too assumed a battle stance.

His Shield was held steady before him as Fighting Qi flared from his Knight’s Heavy Sword.

As a Middle Level High Tier Professional, the intensity of his Fighting Qi far surpassed that of Marcus and Redia!

Kilian’s Fighting Qi was so dense it was almost tangible, perfectly integrated with his Plate Armor and weapon.

This powerful Fighting Qi, combined with the boost from the Magic Potion, made Kilian’s entire presence feel like an unbreakable city wall!

Beneath his Covered Helmet, Kilian’s gaze was fixed on the dark cave ahead, his jaw clenched as tight as iron!

Meanwhile, Zelir and Shaman began Casting.

Praise of Life!

"HUMMM..."

Four threads of light spread out from Zelir as the center.

They connected to Marcus, Gray, Valles, and Hill, respectively.

"Whoa..."

Gray tried to touch the green thread, but his hand passed right through it.

"Don’t worry about the healing not keeping up. When you get injured, my Healing Energy will be conducted directly to you."

Zelir said, "Just as long as you don’t die on the spot."

Simply maintaining Praise of Life didn’t consume a huge amount of Magic Power; it would only use extra Magic Power when actually healing.

With a Medium Energy Crystal already in hand, Zelir began casting buffs on each of his squad members.

For Hill: Swift Blessing, Gift of Barbaric Strength.

For Gray: Swift Blessing, Gift of Barbaric Strength.

For Valles: Swift Blessing.

For Marcus: Swift Blessing, Gift of Barbaric Strength, and Indestructible Body!

Zelir also cast Spring Resonance on himself while he was at it.

He held off on activating Magic Harmony for now, as its Magic Mana Consumption was too high.

He still needed to save his Magic Power to cast Attack Magic.

A total of nine Empowerment Magic spells, plus Praise of Life, consumed about 40% of Zelir’s Magic Power reserves.

After he was promoted to a Middle Level Mage, his Blue Bar—his mana reserves—had increased by a large margin.

Moreover, his Magic Amplification Effectiveness had also increased significantly.

After receiving the buffs, every member of the squad could feel a surging power welling up inside them.

This was especially true for Marcus, who was benefiting from a Triple Gain.

His Power, Agility, and Constitution had all increased dramatically!

An unparalleled confidence rose up from within him.

Shaman also began Casting.

He cast the Indestructible Body buff on Kilian and Redia.

Then, he cast Swift Blessing and Gift of Barbaric Strength on the Warriors and Swordsmen of both teams.

The strength of the entire elite subjugation party skyrocketed!

Watching the clusters of light surge rapidly from the tip of Zelir’s wand and into his squad members, Adrian, who was standing nearby, was dumbfounded.

’How does he seem even more amazing than Shaman...?’

Shaman was just as dumbfounded.

’Wait a minute...’

’Is that spell Praise of Life?’

’Zelir actually knows this?!’

It wasn’t that Praise of Life was particularly difficult to learn.

It was... expensive!

As a spell capable of instant healing, Praise of Life was extremely popular and highly practical.

But that also came with an extremely high price tag.

A single Praise of Life Magic Scroll of decent quality could sell for the high price of 1,500 Gold Coins on the market!

Shaman himself hadn’t even been willing to buy one yet.

’Zelir can actually afford it?’

’He doesn’t look that old. Where did he get the money...?’

’Could he be a hidden member of the Nobility?’

With all pre-battle preparations complete, the only task left was to lure the Nine-headed Dragon Snake out of its cave.

The three Middle Level Mages, standing dozens of meters apart, exchanged glances.

’Since everything is ready...’

’Why not begin?’

Zelir, Adrian, and Rolin began Casting simultaneously.

The tips of their Magic Wands were pointed directly into the depths of the cave!

A surging Magic Wave swept out like an ocean tide, causing their Magic Robes to flap loudly in the wind.

Crimson, pure white, and deep blue.

Three dazzling rays of light flared to life.

Fractal Fire!

Light Arrow!

Chaotic Flow Dance!